German Bundeswehr: A new naval port in Emden aims to enhance Germany's defense capabilities

After months of evaluating different locations, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has announced that the Bundeswehr's new naval port will be built in Emden, on the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony.

"Emden offers ideal conditions, such as quick access to the Atlantic Ocean and the far north," Pistorius said. He added that a second port is needed to accommodate the growing German Navy: New ships and boats require berths, and additional service members need housing. Furthermore, he said, "this will enhance the deterrence capabilities of both Germany and NATO."

The commercial port of Emden is the economic heart of East Frisia. Not only does it dominate the cityscape, but it also provides thousands of jobs. Directly adjacent to the port is the large Volkswagen plant, from which cars are exported by ship to destinations around the world. The port also serves as a shipment hub for large components for wind farms in the North Sea. Now, a naval base with up to 2,000 military posts will be built by the early 2030s. Emden hosted a Bundeswehr base until 1997, but it was no longer needed after the end of the Cold War and was consequently decommissioned.

Emden's 'great advantage'

Coastal land is tough to come by in Germany, but that's not the case in Emden. The port city has "the great advantage of having a lot of available space where a new port can be developed," says Johannes Peters, an expert on maritime security at the Institute for Security Policy at the University of Kiel.

"Emden offers the opportunity to build a dedicated naval port that complies with the latest requirements, including those for security and port protection," Peters emphasizes in an interview with DW. Pistorius estimates that up to 450 hectares of land will be needed — equivalent to about 630 soccer fields.

The only naval port currently on the German North Sea coast is located in Wilhelmshaven. From a strategic perspective, it doesn't make sense to have just one port and nothing to fall back on, security expert Peters emphasized. "If some kind of scenario where conflict breaks out were to actually occur and this infrastructure were to fail, then you'd have a real problem. That's why they want to diversify their options here now."

Pistorius said there was a strategic advantage to a second naval port on the North Sea: "This makes us harder to predict in an emergency and expands our operational capabilities."

Relief for Wilhelmshaven

The planned port in Emden is intended to complement and provide relief for the Wilhelmshaven naval base. This is where Operational Flotilla 2 is stationed, a large formation consisting of frigates and supply ships. The Wilhelmshaven naval base is also being expanded as the fleet grows and personnel levels increase.

In reference to Wilhelmshaven, Pistorius said the "smallest navy in the history of the Bundeswehr" now had more responsibilities than ever before. "So the navy must grow, and it will," Pistorius said. "We have laid the groundwork for this in all areas."

Bremerhaven was also on the shortlist. Although it will not be getting a naval base, the German government is investing a great deal of money there as well. The port will be expanded into a logistical hub that could be used to deploy large troop contingents and heavy equipment from NATO allies in the event of an emergency.

That is the plan outlined in "Operation Plan Germany," Germany's defense plan in the event of a crisis or threat to alliance security. The federal government is allocating up to €1.35 billion ($1.51 billion) for the expansion.

Jobs for Emden?

Although Emden has been officially chosen as the site, so far this is only a memorandum of understanding between the Defense Ministry, the state of Lower Saxony and the city of Emden. Construction of the naval port is likely to take years. "There are still major hurdles to overcome," says Defense Minister Pistorius.

"You can't just walk into a home improvement store and buy a new naval base," Pistorius said. "Marine engineering, transportation links, the barracks — we need to get started on these right away."

The city, with its approximately 50,000 residents, is expected to benefit from the construction of the port, especially since the future of the local Volkswagen plant is uncertain because of ongoing economic trouble for the automaker.

Mayor Tim Kruithoff was all the more delighted. "This is a great day for Emden," he said. He called the planned naval base "an extraordinary opportunity" for jobs and for the economic development of the entire region.